– It is very regrettable. After all, we want the players to give their best, writes tournament manager for the Champion Chess Tour, Arne Horvei, in a message to news. He has just learned that Magnus Carlsen withdrew after only one move against Hans Niemann, accused of cheating. – How did you react when he gave up? – This came as a big surprise, he elaborates later. BENT: The saga between Niemann and Carlsen will never end. Photo: news/AFP – Too early to say anything There were huge expectations attached to the party between Carlsen and Niemann. The two met again during the Champions Chess Tour tournament on Monday – after two weeks of a storm of speculation linked to the Norwegian’s exit, which many interpreted as cheating accusations. Several experts believe that this should have consequences for Carlsen, who has now withdrawn from two parties against the young American. Horvei will not say anything about whether this could have consequences for the chess set in the tournament, which Carlsen has started with three wins and one draw on Sunday. – We will have to come back to the consequence picture, says Horvei. – Can he be thrown out? – Now we are in the middle of it, so we have to get back to that. It is too early to say anything about what the consequences might be. – Have you discussed it? – No. news has tried to get a comment from Carlsen via his manager and father Henrik Carlsen, but has so far been unsuccessful. Can be punished Chess expert for TV 2, Jon-Ludvig Hammer, who has previously been second to Carlsen, believes the behavior can have major consequences. WORKING CLOSELY: Jon-Ludvig Hammer and Carlsen have worked closely together over the years. Photo: Erlend Aas / NTB – It will be behavior that can be sanctioned on the same level as accusing an opponent of cheating, Hammer said. He elaborated further: – The World Chess Federation has an ethical regulation. Many believed that the reason why Magnus did not want to elaborate on his accusations was that Magnus risked being sanctioned if he made accusations without evidence. That may have been part of the reason he didn’t make it clear what he meant, but now when he loses on purpose in a game, it may be conduct that can be sanctioned on a par with accusing an opponent of cheating. The Champion Chess Tour is played online, and Carlsen was apparently at home in Oslo. news’s chess expert Torstein Bae also believes that the Norwegian could risk some form of punishment. – It is possible that if someone complains about this, it could be a topic. It could also be after St. Louis and the Sinquefield Cup, says Bae.
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